Category: Georgia

Governor Kemp Announces Certified Nurse Program Grant as Healthcare Staffing Shortages Linger

Addison Basurto

Governor Brian Porter Kemp announced in a Monday press release that a grant that will award some $800,000 to 500 Georgian high school students through the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Pilot Program.

“Here in Georgia, we are committed to meeting the needs of our young people as they prepare to enter our world-class workforce following years of pandemic disruptions, and we are excited to see how this program will make a difference in their lives as it also helps us fulfill a critical workforce need,” the Republican governor said.

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Mark Gonsalves Says Lucy McBath Should Return GA-06 Constituent Donations After District Switch

Addison Basurto

Republican nominee Mark Gonsalves (R-GA-07) criticized Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) for her decision to change from the 6th District to the 7th District in the middle of a congressional cycle when he spoke with The Georgia Star News on Monday.

“In essence it provides a person a credential that they do not deserve or warrant, and there a lot of people that vote and think, ‘oh, well she must have been my Congressperson.’ Well, that’s not true for 86% of constituents. So, I think it’s very deceptive. That’s how I would describe it,” Gonsalves said. 

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Georgia Officials Want Federal Help with Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

The Center Square

The Georgia Department of Transportation hopes to secure federal funding to pay for a network of electric vehicle charging stations across The Peach State.

GDOT has submitted the state’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan required to tap into federal funding for developing the network. Georgia officials expect to secure $135 million from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program.

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Mark Gonsalves Questions Lucy McBath on Atlanta Host City Flip-Flop

Addison Basurto

GA-07 Republican nominee Mark Gonsalves challenged his opponent, Lucy McBath, on her change in position with respect to the viability of Atlanta as a host city for large public events.

“Lucy McBath and her fellow DC Democrats don’t take the people they represent seriously. Atlanta wasn’t good enough to host the MLB All-Star game, but it’s suddenly good enough to host the DNC? Lucy advocates for her state only when it’s convenient to Democrat causes,” Gonsalves said.

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Taxpayer Funded Incentives Unknown in Georgia’s New $80 Million Manufacturing Plant

The Center Square

A global manufacturer of pet food ingredients plans to invest more than $79 million in a new Columbus facility.

AFB International plans to create more than 100 new jobs over the next five years. The St. Charles, Missouri-based company develops, manufactures and sells palatant ingredients that make pet foods and supplements taste better, helping ensure pets receive needed nutrients.

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Kemp Leads GOP Gubernatorial Group in Response Against Tax Proposals

Addison Basurto

Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp and South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster led Republican governors in a response today in opposition to the $740 billion spending proposal to fix inflation.

“The Democrats’ solution to a 40-year high inflation is passing another reckless tax and spending spree to the tune of $74 billion, affecting Americans in every tax bracket,” the Republican gubernatorial coalition said in a statement Thursday.

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Chris Carr Calls Out George Soros for Installing Partisan District Attorneys

Addison Basurto

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr (R) called out billionaire and Open Society founder George Soros for his financial support of progressive district attorneys, a move that has resulted in crime spikes across the nation.

“George Soros has spent tens of millions to elect prosecutors who care more about coddling criminals than about protecting families. Now the Soros family is funding my Democrat opponent because they know I’ll stand up for YOU, not criminals,” Carr wrote on Twitter Tuesday.

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Herschel Walker Challenges Raphael Warnock to October Debate in Savannah

Addison Basurto

Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker publicly challenged incumbent Senator Raphael Warnock to a debate in Savannah on Tuesday.

“Senator Warnock, I’m ready to debate. In fact, I just accepted a debate in your backyard, Savannah, where you’ve got home-field advantage, and it’s going to be broadcast statewide. I’m not a politician, I don’t look like a politician, I don’t sound like a politician, and frankly, I’m tired of politicians,” Walker said.

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Governor Kemp Extends Gas Tax Suspension, Supply Chain State of Emergency

Addison Basurto

Governor Brian Kemp (R) signed two executive orders on Wednesday that extended the gas tax suspension and renewed the state of emergency for supply chain disruptions. These executive orders will be effective through September 12th.

“I have extended the temporary suspension of the state’s motor fuel tax to alleviate the financial burden placed on Georgians due to the federal government’s gross mishandling of inflation,” Gov. Kemp said. 

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Burt Jones Challenges Stacey Abrams on Music Midtown Cancellation

Addison Basurto

Burt Jones, Republican nominee for lieutenant governor of Georgia, took exception to the assertion by Stacey Abrams that Governor Kemp is more concerned with “protecting dangerous people” than the economy of the state by affirming the right for Peach State citizens to bear arms with the signing of the constitutional carry law.

“Music Midtown is the new All Star Game. It’s still illegal for criminals to carry guns, and Georgia continues to see record voter turnout. Notice a trend? Her name is Stacey Abrams–and she’s still being dishonest with Georgia voters,” Jones tweeted on Tuesday.

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Atlanta Mayor Courts Democrats for 2024 DNC Convention

Addison Basurto

City of Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and other Georgia Democrats welcomed DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison in a tour of State Farm Arena on Friday as part of their attempt to win the bid for Georgia’s capital to host the 2024 DNC National Convention.

“This week, Atlanta welcomed Democratic National Convention officials to promote its bid to host the 2024 convention. Our city is clearly the place to be!” The City of Atlanta Government said in a Facebook post on Friday.

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Former Augusta Commissioner Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison After Conviction for Falsifying Records

Addison Basurto

The former Augusta District 4 Commissioner, Sammie Lee Sias, 67, of Hephzibah, faces up to 20 years in federal prison after he was found guilty by a U.S. District Court jury of record falsification and making a false statement to a U.S. agency by the Southern District of Georgia on Friday.

“Former Commissioner Sias knew his handling of sales tax funds was under investigation, and he deleted thousands of electronic files within hours of a federal order requiring him to provide those files,” U.S. Attorney David H. Estes said. 

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Georgia Officials Unable to Say How Much Taxpayer Money Was Spent on School Supply Program for Teachers

The Center Square

Georgia plans to give a $125 supplement to teachers in the state to offset the cost of classroom materials and ostensibly help students rebound from learning losses suffered amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Georgia officials cannot say how much money in total the state plans to give public school teachers as part of the “Back-to-School Supply Supplement” program.

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Leader of Georgia Drug Distribution Ring Sentenced to Federal Prison for Nearly 40 Years

Cooper Moran
Close-up of barbed wire at a prison

A Georgia inmate was able to orchestrate and execute a drug distribution ring while behind bars that sent narcotics throughout the state, according to the Department of Justice.

Jackie Kavaskia McMillan was sentenced to almost 40 years in prison for operating that drug ring that sent methamphetamine and other drugs, targeting the southern portion of the state.

The additional sentence will be served consecutive to the life sentence that McMillian is already subject to because he was convicted of murder.

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Spalding County Sheriff Presents Herschel Walker with a Sheriff’s Office Badge as a Token of Thanks

Addison Basurto

Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix, presented Georgia GOP Senatorial nominee Herschel Walker, with an official Sheriff’s office badge as a token of thanks for the candidate’s support of law enforcement.

“Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix made @HerschelWalker an honorary deputy to thank him for his commitment to backing the blue. #gapol” Walker campaign spokeswoman Mallory Blount said on Friday.

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Brian Kemp Extends Lead Over Abrams to Eight Points in Latest Poll

Addison Basurto

A poll published Friday by Beacon Research, found that Governor Brian Kemp (R) has extended his lead over Democrat nominee for Governor, Stacey Abrams, by eight points.

“I’m not surprised about his lead over Abrams. I know for a fact a lot of people are disgusted about the Democrat policies,” Barrow County GOP Executive Committee Rep. Laura Petcu (04) told The Georgia Star News on Friday.

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Border Patrol Union Issues Endorsement of Herschel Walker

Peter D'Abrosca

The union that represents U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Friday endorsed a Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Georgia. 

“We are proud to endorse Herschel Walker … for U.S. Senate from the state of Georgia. We need him to help secure our border and safeguard the citizens of GA and the rest of the country from the record setting deadly influx of drugs, crime and illegal immigration,” said the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC). 

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Commentary: Raphael Warnock and the Georgia Democrats’ Anti-Police Agenda Puts Georgians in Danger

The Center Square

Despite crime being up in major metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, law enforcement officers remain under attack by radical leftists and anti-policeDemocrats like Raphael Warnock and other Georgia Democrats.

Homicides in Atlanta are up for the “third straight year” with 87 homicides reported compared to 79 from this point in 2020. 

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Bipartisan Senate Bill Passes to Rename Georgia VA Office in Honor of Late Senator Johnny Isakson

Addison Basurto

The U.S. Senate passed Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff’s bipartisan bill to rename the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Atlanta Regional Office in honor of the late Georgia U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson on Thursday.

“The bill designates the Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Office in Georgia as the Senator Johnny Isakson Department of Veterans Affairs Atlanta Regional Office, or the Isakson VA Atlanta Regional Office,” the Senate Periodicals account said in a Tuesday tweet.

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GA-7 Candidate Mark Gonsalves Discusses Growing Hispanic Influence on GOP

Addison Basurto

Republican GA-07 nominee Mark Gonsalves spoke with The Georgia Star News at length on Thursday about the ever-increasing influence the Spanish-speaking populace has on the Republican Party.

“What the Hispanic communities have come to realize is that what they work so hard for here is really being squandered in Washington D.C., that their hard work is not being treated with a level of respect,” Gonsalves said.

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Herschel Walker Goes After Warnock Before Law Enforcement Press Conference with Newt Gingrich

Addison Basurto

Georgia Senate Nominee for the Republican Party, Herschel Walker, released several statements on Thursday where he criticized his opponent, incumbent Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock (D), on law enforcement support, crime rates, and his history of support for Joe Biden in the days that lead up to Friday’s press conference with U.S. Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich.

“Raphael Warnock has consistently worked to support criminals instead of keeping our communities safe,” spokeswoman Mallory Blount said. “Crime is rising across the country and Georgia is no exception Atlanta has one of the highest crime rates in the country and Georgians are sick and tired of it. Warnock has done more for Joe Biden than law-abiding Georgians and it is time Georgia had a Senator who takes public safety seriously.”

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Kay Kirkpatrick Assesses State-Run Veteran Nursing Homes for Improvements

Addison Basurto

The Georgia State Senate’s office announced that State Senator Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta), chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security, has been appointed to the new Subcommittee on Veteran Nursing Facilities.

“I am honored to serve as chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security as we work to ensure our service members get the best quality of life possible,” Congresswoman Kirkpatrick said.

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Andrew Clyde Confronts NPR About Its ‘Disinformation Reporting Team’

Addison Basurto

U.S. Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09) led a group fellow congress members in a letter to National Public Radio (NPR) that questioned their newly minted ‘disinformation reporting team.’

“NPR has absolutely no authority to be arbiters of truth, which is why I led 13 colleagues in a letter raising concerns about NPR’s track record of spreading disinformation and demanding answers about the media organization’s new Disinformation Reporting team,” Congressman Clyde said.

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Georgia State Senate Majority Leader Chairs Committee to Revise Education Funding

Addison Basurto

The Georgia State Senate Majority Leader, Mike Dugan (R-Carrollton), announced the meeting schedule for the Senate Study Committee to Revise Education Funding Mechanisms, on which he is the chairman.

“Over the next few months, I will be chairing a committee to review Georgia’s education funding formula (QBE). We’re going to make Georgia the #1 state for education!” Georgia District 30 State Senator Mike Dugan said.

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Congressional Hopeful Rich McCormick Pushes Back Against Biden’s Idea of a ‘Recession’

Addison Basurto

Georgia 6th Congressional District Republican Nominee Rich McCormick challenged Bidenomics and President Biden’s definition of the word ‘recession’ in a statement on Monday.

“‘Two quarters of declining GDP doesn’t mean we are in a recession’ is the new ‘Inflation is transitory.’ The Biden Administration should try to spend as much time trying to fix the economy as they do making excuses for it,” McCormick said.

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Georgia Taxpayers to Provide $1.8 Billion in Incentives to Large Car Company for New Savannah Electric Vehicle Plant

The Center Square

Georgia governments and development authorities offered Hyundai Motor Group more than $1.8 billion in incentives.

In May, Hyundai said it had selected Georgia for its first fully dedicated electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facility. The plan calls for Hyundai to invest more than $5.5 billion in building the facility in the 2,923-acre Bryan County Megasite along Interstate 16, while non-affiliated Hyundai suppliers plan to invest roughly $1 billion in the project.

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Herschel Walker Questions Senator Warnock’s History of Support for Joe Biden

Addison Basurto

Republican Georgia Senate Candidate Herschel Walker challenged his opponent, Senator Raphael Warnock (D), on his track record of supporting President Joe Biden in a statement on Monday. 

“Reverend Warnock, since we’re asking questions today: Why do you vote with Biden 96% of the time? Why do you support abortion up until the time of birth? Why do you believe our law enforcement officers are thugs? Why do you believe men should compete against women in sports?” Walker said to Warnock.

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Barry Loudermilk Calls for Biden to Resume Keystone XL Pipeline Construction

Addison Basurto

After recent criticism of President Biden’s ‘war on American energy,’ Georgia 11th Congressional District Representative Barry Loudermilk has called for Biden to resume the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Congressman Loudermilk relayed his thoughts to The Georgia Star News.

“For the U.S. to have a robust energy sector, it would first require having a President who believes in the oil and gas industry, not one who vilifies it at every turn. But if President Biden were to embrace returning America to energy independence, one of the first things he would do would be resume construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline,” Congressman Loudermilk said.

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Report: Georgia Ranks Highly for Workers Quitting Their Jobs Despite Low Unemployment Rate

The Center Square

Georgia ranked among the states with the highest number of workers quitting their jobs, even as state officials tout the lowest unemployment rate on record.

A new analysis from WalletHub found that The Peach State ranked fifth as the state with the highest resignation rate, with nearly 3.9% leaving their jobs over the past 12 months. Nationally, Alaska topped the list, ahead of Montana, Wyoming and Florida.

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Rep. Austin Scott Meets with Taiwanese Ambassador as Rep. Drew Ferguson Lambasts Biden for Oil Relations with Communist China

Addison Basurto

U.S. Representatives Austin Scott (R-GA-08) and Drew Ferguson (GA-03) were among the delegation of American officials that met the Taiwanese Ambassador to the United States Hsiao Bi-khim at a China Task Force roundtable on Thursday.

Rep. Scott took the opportunity to express his frustration at the Biden administration for its stance on energy and the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

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Georgia Court Appointees Andrew Pinson and Ben Land Promoted, Sworn onto State Bench

Addison Basurto

Georgia Judiciary Appointees Andrew Pinson and Benjamin Land were sworn onto the state bench in promotional appointments made by Governor Brian Kemp (R) on Wednesday.

“Today, I had the honor of swearing in Andrew Pinson to the #SupremeCourtGA and Ben Land to the @AppealsCourtGA, its first judge from Columbus. They both have upheld wisdom and integrity on the bench, and they will continue to do so in the important cases that come before them,” Governor Kemp said. 

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Atlanta Filmmaker Guilty of $2.5 Million Cryptocurrency Fraud

Addison Basurto

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia announced on Thursday that Atlanta-based filmmaker Ryan Felton, 48, pleaded guilty to 12 counts of wire fraud, 10 counts of money laundering, and 2 counts of securities fraud that stemmed from two cryptocurrency-based investment scams.

“The defendant used 21st century technology to perpetrate an age-old fraud: lying to investors to steal their money and fund his own lavish lifestyle,” United States Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said.

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GA-05 Candidate Christian Zimm Cites Atlanta Veteran Affairs Hospital As Example That Veterans Need Better Healthcare

Addison Basurto

In a Facebook post on Friday, Georgia 5th Congressional District Republican candidate Christian Zimm criticized the quality of healthcare veterans receive in the metro Atlanta area.

“Veterans in Atlanta are receiving some of the worst care in the country! This is awful, and must be addressed immediately. Our veterans deserve better!” Georgia 5th Congressional District Candidate Christian Zimm said.

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Georgia Students Improve on Standardized Testing, According to New Data

Cooper Moran

Students across the state of Georgia improved their scores on standardized tests, as educators seek to improve learning loss caused by lockdowns and online learning amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to new data from the Georgia Department of Education, scores remained the same or increased on 17 of 21 assessments, when compared to the results of the previous year.

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Court Rules Georgia Heartbeat Law May Take Effect

Susan Berry, PhD

A three-judge panel of a federal appeals court ruled unanimously Wednesday that Georgia’s 2019 Heartbeat law that bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected may take effect.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled the Georgia law (HB 481), known as the Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act may proceed to take effect after a federal judge blocked it in a decision that found the law violated the right to abortion created by the U.S. Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade in 1973.

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Mark Gonsalves Challenges Opponent Lucy McBath on Bidenomics

Addison Basurto

Georgia 7th Congressional District Republican Nominee, Mark Gonsalves, recently confronted his general election opponent, former 6th Congressional District Representative Lucy McBath, on Twitter for her history of supporting Bidenomics.

Georgia 7th Congressional District Candidate Mark Gonsalves spoke with The Georgia Star News on Thursday.

“I understand economics and business and this inflationary environment we’re in is because the government has turned its back on good fiscal governance. They think that they can return our nation to Energy Dependance and tax and spend their way to prosperity. In the process because of their limitless spending, it’s created an incredible level of inflation we haven’t seen for 40 years,” Gonsalves said.

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Copper Foil Manufacturer to Invest $430 Million in Richmond County Facility

Addison Basurto

A high-quality electrodeposited (ED) copper foil manufacturer Denkai America announced Wednesday in a joint statement with Governor Brian Kemp that it will invest $430 million in a Richmond County-based facility that will create 250 jobs over the next five years.

“As Georgia continues to lead in the emerging electric vehicle market & next-gen jobs, I’m proud to announce that Denkai America will invest $430M & create 250 new jobs over the next five years in Richmond County through its new manufacturing facility and North American Headquarters!” Kemp said. 

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Barry Loudermilk Attacks Biden’s ‘War on American Energy’

Addison Basurto

Georgia’s 11th Congressional District (GA11) Representative, Barry Loudermilk, criticized President Joe Biden and the EPA’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Budget on Tuesday.

“Biden’s war on American energy production is getting an assist from the Democrat-led Congress in the FY23 Interior and EPA appropriations package. [It] restricts offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and restricts new projects in designated areas of the continental shelf,” Loudermilk said.

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Kemp Targets Abrams as David Ralston Calls on MLB Commissioner to Award Future All-Star Game to Atlanta

Addison Basurto
Braves baseball stadium

As Governor Brian Kemp (R) called out Stacey Abrams on Tuesday for her role in the removal of the 2021 MLB All-Star Game from Atlanta, the state’s speaker of the house pressed the commissioner of baseball for answers.

“Last year, Stacey Abrams pressured MLB to move the All-Star Game out of Georgia. After costing Georgia businesses $100 MILLION in lost revenue, imagine the damage Abrams would cause to our economy if she’s elected governor,” Governor Kemp said on Tuesday.

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Atlanta Regional Commission Appoints Executive Team

Addison Basurto

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC), the official planning agency for the 11-county Atlanta region, announced the appointment of its new executive team.

“ARC is already one of Atlanta region’s most impactful organizations, and these changes will only strengthen our ability to build a better future for all metro Atlanta residents,” ARC Executive Director Anna Roach said on Monday.

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